On the Ground: Silverjet, a transatlantic business-class airline, provides passengers with a Silver Lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport. Situated on Level 2 at the end of Terminal B, the lounge can be difficult to locate, particularly for connecting travelers. Unlike the airline’s polished private terminal at London Luton, the Newark facility still feels like it’s under development: the staff are friendly but service can be slow, and the light buffet—finger sandwiches, Oreo cookies and apples—falls short of the elevated offerings one expects in premium travel. Despite these shortcomings, the lounge offers comfortable leather seating with foldout desks and accessible power outlets. The restroom is located a short walk away, up a flight of stairs, so I had to leave the lounge to use it, but check-in and boarding for my 7:30 p.m. flight proceeded smoothly. (17/20)
On Board: A Boeing 767 outfitted with only 100 seats feels surprisingly spacious. From the moment I stepped on board a flight attendant greeted me by name and took my jacket, then returned moments later to take my drink order. Once airborne, I reclined my seat to roughly 175 degrees and settled in for a pre-dinner nap on the 6-foot-3-inch frame. When I woke, the cabin lights were dimmed—the entire cabin is designated a “Quiet Zone”—and I was ready for dinner. I switched on my reading light and the attendant promptly approached. The menu featured individually prepared gourmet selections; I chose roasted chicken. The meal took about twenty minutes to arrive, but it was worth the wait. (39/40)
The Experience: In-flight entertainment comes via the Silver Screen, a handheld personal system loaded with music, TV programs and movies, and it’s paired with a noise-reduction headset. I had work to do, so I plugged my laptop into the outlet by my seat and used the foldout table to spread out my documents. Silverjet often leaves the adjacent seat empty when possible for solo travelers, which added to the sense of space and privacy. I dozed and woke just as we were preparing to land; before leaving my seat the crew packed a hearty “Breakfast Express” to go, which was convenient and satisfying after an overnight crossing. (39/40)
Total Score: 95/100